It is with much regret that we report the Death of Jack Halsall on Saturday 26th September 2009 at a Preston Hospital. Jack predeceases his wife Betty and his two children Ian and Jean.
Jack joined the radar development group at EKCO, Malmesbury in the early 50's, gaining experience from the E38 cloud and collision radar, fitted to the Short Sunderland Flying boats.
Jack Gard was Leader of the laboratory charged with the creation of the E120 / E160 commercial weather radar systems with Jack Halsall as Project Engineer responsible for the T/R and EHT unit.
With the emergence of the Transistor a major opportunity was recognised by EKCO of being able to produce a light weight commercial weather radar system having a higher reliability than the earlier valve systems. This was a bold commercial decision.
The resulting E190 development was ably led by Jack Halsall as project leader at the head of a very talented team of engineers faced with many new and challenging problems. This early solid work led to the E290, E290M and E390,564 systems all led by Jack.
EKCO moved its radar division to Southend on Sea in 1962, where Jack and Betty set up home in Rochford. A later upheaval saw the radar group move to Crawley Sussex where Jack and Betty bought a house in Pound Hill.
Their final move was to Hutton near Preston into a homely bungalow.
Jack will be well remembered by friends and work colleagues alike as a man of great integrity and good will, even when under pressure. We mourn the loss of one of nature's true gentlemen.
The Cremation will take place at Preston Crematorium at 3 pm on Monday 5th October 2009.
